1122 - Chapter 16

The phone call didn’t last long, about ten minutes.

Jiang Yi was just about to hang up when he heard Luo Songran on the other end say, “Let’s meet up.”

Jiang Yi was momentarily speechless. He had never considered meeting Luo Songran, let alone expected that Director Duan and Luo Songran would also be in M Country. What shocked him most was that Director Duan’s two sons were attending the same kindergarten as his daughter?! How could such a coincidence happen?

This invisible connection to that person made him uneasy.

He instinctively glanced at Chu Beiheng, who was sitting across from him.

Chu Beiheng, suddenly meeting Jiang Yi’s gaze, flinched and looked away guiltily. He silently turned his head and picked up Jiang Nianqiao. “I’m hungry. Let’s see what we’re having for dinner tonight. What does Qiao Qiao want to eat?”

As soon as he spoke, he saw Jiang Yi hurl a cushion straight at him. He quickly turned sideways, shielding Jiang Nianqiao in his arms, and the cushion struck his arm hard. Glancing down, he noticed Jiang Nianqiao shrinking in fear, which instantly made him angry.

“Jiang Yi, what the hell is wrong with you? What if you hit Qiao Qiao?”

Before Jiang Yi could respond, the call abruptly ended. With a dark expression, he walked toward Chu Beiheng. “Give Qiao Qiao to me.”

Jiang Nianqiao, seeing her father’s sudden anger, buried her face in her uncle’s chest in fear, not daring to make a sound. Her small hands clutched tightly at the fabric of his shirt as she whimpered, “Uncle, hold Qiao Qiao tight.”

Chu Beiheng sensed Jiang Yi’s unusual mood and shifted protectively with the child in his arms. “Jiang Yi, at least tell me why you’re suddenly so angry?”

“Did you tell your brother where I was? Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that they’re in the same kindergarten as Qiao Qiao?” Seeing how tightly his daughter clung to Chu Beiheng, Jiang Yi felt utterly defeated. His eyes reddened as he stared at Chu Beiheng. “You couldn’t have not known that Director Duan’s son is named Jacob. Chu Beiheng, I don’t have the strength to handle this. You know I—”

“Of course I know,” Chu Beiheng cut him off firmly. Hearing the tremor in Jiang Yi’s voice and seeing his pale face, he felt a pang of guilt. “But I swear, I never told Yan Nanchen where you were. Not even my fathers. We’ve all taken the same stance respecting your choice. If you don’t want anyone to know where you are, none of us would ever reveal it.”

Worried that his tone might scare the child, he gently patted Jiang Nianqiao’s head and set her down. “Qiao Qiao, go to Uncle’s room and look for the gift I bought you.”

Jiang Nianqiao wasn’t a thoughtless child. Though she was happy to hear about another gift, seeing her father upset made her heart sink.

Still, she didn’t want her father to notice her sadness, so she forced a bright smile.

“Then I’ll go find the gift now!”

Jiang Yi watched his daughter, struggling to rein in his emotions, and managed a smile. “Go ahead. Your uncle and I need to talk.”

Only when Jiang Nianqiao’s figure disappeared up the stairs did his smile fade completely.

“Then let me ask you now, did you tell them where I was?” Jiang Yi suddenly recalled that Director Duan had started extending invitations to him a year ago, asking if he’d be willing to become the Executive President of Neptune Technology Group’s international division in Country M. He had maintained silence on the matter essentially choosing not to respond.

Although he knew Director Duan couldn’t possibly have come to Country M just for him whether because of Young Master Luo or the two children, the coincidence of the children attending the same kindergarten was just too much.

He didn’t speak ill of Chu Beiheng. He acknowledged that over the past five years, Chu Beiheng had been of great help to him, his roommate, but more importantly, his brother.

It was precisely because he trusted Chu Beiheng that he was so angry.

Chu Beiheng sighed, bending down to pick up the pillow that had been thrown at his feet. “I’m innocent too. Last week, I went to St. Ronan Conservatory with my doctoral advisor to conduct a survey. How was I supposed to know Ranran had gotten in there? I swear, he never told me he’d already been accepted. Honestly, I knew he was applying, but I didn’t expect him to actually get in.”

“And then?” Jiang Yi frowned, rubbing his temples. Feeling uncomfortable standing, he sat back down on the sofa.

Seeing him massage his forehead, Chu Beiheng was exasperated. “And then, don’t tell me you didn’t take your blood pressure medication today?”

Jiang Yi met Chu Beiheng’s gaze with a dark look. “Is now really the time for this?”

“I’m just worried you’ll burst a blood vessel from all this anger.” Chu Beiheng sighed heavily again, bending down to pull open the drawer under the coffee table. He tossed a blister pack of pills at Jiang Yi. “For goodness’ sake, think about your health a little more.”

“I’ve been working out, okay?” Jiang Yi caught the pills, popped one into his mouth, and washed it down with the glass of warm water from earlier.

No sooner had he swallowed the pill than Chu Beiheng shoved his arm hard. Caught off guard, Jiang Yi lost his balance and fell back onto the sofa, anger flashing in his eyes. “Hey, Chu Beiheng, looking for a fight?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. One push and you’re down. So weak, so fragile. Pathetic.” Chu Beiheng crossed his legs like a boss, hands resting on the armrests, giving Jiang Yi a look of utter disbelief. “If you ever get into a fight, how are you going to hold your own? Ask them to go easy on you?”

He thought to himself that the hardest part of the past five years hadn’t been the physical illness, but the psychological barrier Jiang Yi couldn’t seem to overcome.

But this couldn’t go on. How could Jiang Yi be the only one suffering?

“I think you’re just trying to change the subject now,” Jiang Yi said indignantly, sitting up. Perhaps due to his anger, a faint flush colored his pale cheeks, making him look slightly more alive.

“I swear I had no idea Zhuzhu and Zaizai would end up in the same kindergarten as Qiao Qiao. What can we do now? Make them transfer? Or are you going to make Qiao Qiao transfer? I wouldn’t recommend it, this kindergarten is excellent. You won’t find another like it.”

Jiang Yi fell silent, staring wordlessly at Chu Beiheng.

Chu Beiheng silently uncrossed his legs, turned sideways, and draped his arm over the back of the chair, propping his head up as he averted his gaze from those murderous eyes. “I know what you mean, you don’t want them to find out where you are. But Jiang Yi, it’s been five years. Haven’t these five years been miserable enough for you? Was there a single day you didn’t think about going back to take revenge on him? Why keep torturing yourself like this?”

“And what identity are you using to talk to me about this now?”

“My identity as a Ph.D., of course.”

Jiang Yi tossed a cold glare his way. “I’m not joking.”

Chu Beiheng cleared his throat. “I’m talking to you as Qiao Qiao’s uncle.” He paused, then continued, “Do you think I don’t know? That white shirt of his, where did you put it? Even Qiao Qiao knows it’s First Dad’s clothes. You know it best yourself. From hiding and hoarding his clothes, to wanting to cut them up or throw them away, only to regret it and pick them back up, doesn’t that say something?”

Jiang Yi suddenly stiffened as if struck at his weakest point, his eyes flickering. He pressed his lips together and finally lowered his gaze. “It doesn’t mean anything. It’s just the mark acting up.”

“Then why haven’t you washed it off? You could’ve done it after giving birth.”

Jiang Yi: “…” His gaze darkened as he stared at Chu Beiheng.

Chu Beiheng raised his hands. “Hey, don’t look at me like that. I’m just speaking the truth. Sometimes, we need to face our own desires head-on.”

Jiang Yi let out a hollow laugh. “As if you know what my desires are.”

“I do.”

“What do you know?”

“You miss him. You miss Yan Nanchen so much it hurts.”

The moment those words fell, the atmosphere in the living room froze solid.

Jiang Yi’s lips pressed into a tight line, his clenched jaw betraying his agitation. His hand, resting at his side, gripped the blister pack of pills so tightly he didn’t even notice the sharp edges cutting into his skin, drawing thin streaks of blood.

Chu Beiheng noticed. A resigned look flashed in his eyes, these two stubborn fools, trapped in an endless cycle of resentment. Shaking his head, he stood up to fetch the first aid kit, then returned to sit beside Jiang Yi.

He took out cotton swabs and alcohol, flicking Jiang Yi’s injured hand lightly with his other hand.

Jiang Yi hissed in pain, finally loosening his grip and glaring at Chu Beiheng. “That hurt.”

“Of course it hurt. Only an idiot wouldn’t feel pain. Give me your hand.” Chu Beiheng grabbed Jiang Yi’s injured hand without ceremony, dabbing alcohol onto the cuts. Casually, he asked, “Did I hit a nerve? Is that why you’re mad?”

Jiang Yi stayed silent, letting him disinfect the wound, but his gaze remained fixed on the crystal cabinet by the floor-to-ceiling window, unmoving.

Chu Beiheng followed Jiang Yi’s line of sight. After finishing the disinfection, he tossed the bloodied cotton swab into the trash and pressed a bandage over the cuts deliberately applying extra pressure.

Jiang Yi jolted back to reality with a sharp inhale, glaring at Chu Beiheng before looping an arm around his neck and yanking him down. “Looking for a fight, huh? Bring it on.”

“Cough.” Chu Beiheng was caught off guard by the arm locked around his throat. He thought to himself that his workouts must be paying off, this grip was pretty strong. But he still praised, “That’s right, just like that. When you’re angry, you should let it out. What’s the point of holding it in? You’re only hurting yourself. Let me tell you, from what I know of Yan Nanchen, nine times out of ten, he’s already forgotten about you.”

Jiang Yi’s face instantly paled at these words, and his arm around Chu Beiheng’s neck loosened slightly in disbelief.

Seeing his provocation succeed, Chu Beiheng pulled Jiang Yi’s arm down and continued with an air of seriousness, “Think about it, who is Yan Nanchen? The CEO of Galaxy Group, swamped with endless work every day. How could he possibly have time to grieve? And then think about all the suffering you’ve endured. Even I feel wronged on your behalf!”

He glanced at Jiang Yi, gauging his reaction, and seeing the emotions were ripe, he clapped his hands for emphasis, shaking his head with exaggerated melancholy. “Tell me, isn’t this unfair? He doesn’t even know how much you’ve suffered. You’re a single parent raising a child all by yourself, a child who’s half his, by the way. Why hasn’t he contributed a single cent in child support for five years? Unfair. Absolutely unfair.”

“And look has he even tried to find you? Not once! With his position as CEO of Galaxy Group, even if my dad and the others helped hide your whereabouts, do you really think he couldn’t have found another way to track you down? I don’t buy it. He just didn’t want to.”

“Yan Nanchen probably thought to himself, ‘This Jiang Yi is such a fool. Now that he’s an Omega, marked and pregnant, what good would running away do him?’ Well, it did plenty of good for Yan Nanchen! No hassle, no responsibility, no child to raise. He gets to stay a carefree bachelor while Omegas throw themselves at him.”

“Jiang Yi, if I were you, I’d march right back home and shove it in his face. Bring Qiao Qiao right in front of him and announce to everyone, ‘This is your child. You abandoned us, refused to support us, you heartless scoundrel. Give me back my youth!'”

Jiang Yi took a deep breath, visibly angered. Without a word, he raised his hand and smacked Chu Beiheng hard on the back of the head. “Shut up! You and your big mouth!”

Chu Beiheng clutched his head in exaggerated pain. “I’m just telling the truth! Standing up for you! Why should he get off scot-free, right?” His face feigned hurt, but his eyes kept darting to Jiang Yi, watching for a reaction.

To his surprise, Jiang Yi stood up.

Just as Chu Beiheng thought Jiang Yi was about to retreat and sulk alone again, he heard him say:

“You’re right. I’m the only one suffering here. He doesn’t know anything.”

Chu Beiheng’s eyes lit up instantly, but he quickly lowered his head to hide his glee, nodding along. “Exactly.”

Jiang Yi glanced at him and, after a brief silence, said, “Make dinner.”

Chu Beiheng: “…?” That was abrupt.

“Need energy to plan my next move.” Jiang Yi headed upstairs. “I’m going to check on Qiao Qiao.”

His slender figure, straight-backed like a bamboo stalk in the forest, exuded resilience unyielding even through storms.

Chu Beiheng watched him go, then let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

In truth, he understood clearly, this person might claim to love and hate freely, but how could there be such deep hatred without love? And if the hatred were real, why would that white shirt be treasured like a precious gem, or why would defenses lower so easily at his provocations?

In the end, it was just about giving this stubborn guy a way out.

Five years had passed, and finally, that way out was taken.

His expression softened as he took out his phone and quickly sent his brother the photo, he had secretly taken last night of Jiang Yi reading by the floor-to-ceiling window though it was heavily watermarked.

[Code Name J: President Yan, want this high-definition, uncensored photo? One million.]

In less than two seconds, Chu Beiheng saw the one million hit his account. Smirking, he sent over the watermark-free version. Once the transaction was complete, he stood up and headed into the kitchen.

Tying on an apron and opening the fridge, he hummed cheerfully, “Gotta buy Qiao Qiao a Barbie doll tonight.”

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